External risk intelligence

NETGEAR DGN2200 Command Execution Vulnerability.

CVE advisoryKnown Exploit

CVE-2017-6334

NETGEAR DGN2200 devices have a vulnerability allowing authenticated users to execute unauthorized commands. This could lead to compromised device control and malicious code execution, posing a business risk. Affected organizations should identify and mitigate exposure to these devices.

4Halo Surface Signal

OS Command Injection

Netgear Dgn2200 Series Firmware

10.0.0.50 and earlier

External exposure likelihood

Halo Surface Signal score for CVE-2017-6334

The vulnerability affects a home/small office router interface, which is a network device commonly deployed as an internet-facing gateway. Management interfaces for such devices are often accessible over the network, and the vulnerability involves a CGI script typically exposed via the device's web-based administration panel.

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

NETGEAR DGN2200 devices contain a vulnerability in the dnslookup.cgi script. This flaw allows authenticated users to run unauthorized commands on the device's operating system. The potential impact includes the compromise of device control and the execution of malicious code.

  • Vulnerable: NETGEAR DGN2200 devices
  • Flaw: OS command injection
  • Impact: Unauthorized command execution

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

This vulnerability allows an attacker to execute arbitrary operating system commands on a targeted device. The attack requires the attacker to be authenticated to the device. Once authenticated, the attacker can send a specially crafted HTTP POST request to the dnslookup.cgi script. This request contains shell metacharacters within the host_name field, which are then interpreted by the system, leading to the execution of the attacker's commands. The impact of this attack could include unauthorized access and modification of the device's configuration or data.

  • Authenticated access to the device is required.
  • Attacker sends a POST request.
  • Arbitrary OS commands are executed.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This vulnerability allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary operating system commands on affected NETGEAR DGN2200 devices. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access and control over the device, posing a significant risk to business operations. The vulnerability has been documented as actively exploited, indicating a high level of threat.

  • Attackers with authenticated access.
  • Difficulties are low.
  • Business risk is high; treat as urgent.

Priority actions

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

This vulnerability allows authenticated users to execute commands on NETGEAR DGN2200 devices. Attackers could exploit this to gain control of affected systems, leading to significant business risk. Organizations should prioritize identifying and mitigating exposure to these devices.

  • Find NETGEAR DGN2200 devices.
  • Isolate affected devices from the network.
  • Replace or decommission all affected devices.

Frequently asked questions

What is the NETGEAR DGN2200 series firmware and what is it used for?

The NETGEAR DGN2200 series firmware is software that runs on NETGEAR DGN2200 devices, which are commonly used as routers. These devices typically provide internet connectivity and networking services for homes and small offices.

How does CVE-2017-6334 enable unauthorized command execution?

CVE-2017-6334 is an OS command injection vulnerability. It allows authenticated users to send specially crafted commands in the 'host_name' field of an HTTP POST request to the dnslookup.cgi script. The device then misinterprets these commands, leading to their execution on the operating system.

What are the conditions for an attacker to trigger this vulnerability?

An attacker must first have authenticated access to the NETGEAR DGN2200 device. Once authenticated, they can send a malicious HTTP POST request to the dnslookup.cgi script. The vulnerability is not triggered if the host_name field does not contain shell metacharacters.

Who should be concerned about this vulnerability, given its network exposure?

Anyone managing NETGEAR DGN2200 devices that are accessible over a network, especially those acting as internet-facing gateways, should be concerned. This includes home users and small businesses that may have these routers connected to the internet.

What is the first step for responding to this threat on NETGEAR devices?

The initial step is to identify any NETGEAR DGN2200 devices within your network. Given that these devices are end-of-life, the recommended action is to isolate them from the network and replace or decommission them if they are still in use.

References